N‑acetylcysteine (NAC) to slow vision loss in retinitis pigmentosa with centralized OCT imaging support
Official title: NAC Attack, a phase-3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with retinitis pigmentosa: OCT Reading Center
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11306996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses detailed OCT eye scans to see if N‑acetylcysteine (NAC) helps people with retinitis pigmentosa keep a key light‑sensing layer of their retina longer than a placebo.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | March 17, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $265,370 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1EY033287-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa who meet the NAC Attack trial's inclusion criteria and can attend regular clinic visits for OCT imaging would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without retinitis pigmentosa, those unable to undergo OCT imaging, or those with very advanced, end‑stage retinal loss are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
If you have retinitis pigmentosa, the project collects high‑resolution spectral‑domain OCT eye scans at participating clinic visits and sends them securely to a central Reading Center. Trained graders at the Reading Center measure the ellipsoid zone (the light‑sensing layer) length and area on each scan to track change over time. Those measurements are used to compare people taking NAC with people taking a placebo across the phase‑3 trial. The Reading Center also trains and certifies clinic staff, uses validated web tools to upload and store images, and follows regulatory and data‑security standards.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show that NAC slows retinal degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa and helps preserve vision longer.
How similar studies have gone: Early‑stage and laboratory studies of antioxidants including NAC have suggested possible retinal protection, but large phase‑3 evidence is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaffe, Glenn — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Jaffe, Glenn
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This grant studies how specific retinal extracellular matrix proteins (IMPG1 and IMPG2) affect eye health and contribute to retinitis pigmentosa, with potential implications for people who have or are at risk for inherited blindness.
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NAC Attack: a late-stage trial for preserving vision in RP patients
A large, multi-site study is testing whether taking a daily NAC pill can help people with retinitis pigmentosa keep more of their vision.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.